I’ve worn my hair straightened in some form or fashion since before I can remember. When I was ten, I got my first relaxer. Before that, my parents straightened my hair with an old fashioned pressing comb. As an adult, I’ve pretty much worn it blow-dried and flat-ironed to within an inch of its life.
Before Covid, I couldn’t tell you the last time I did my own hair. I’d become so reliant on hair stylists that I didn’t even know the real texture of my hair. I literally just never had to deal with it.
Oh, how things have changed.
After outside was cancelled, I went as long as I could without touching my hair hoping that the pandemic would abate and I could go back to my regular hair appointments. One week turned into two then three, then four. How long could I hold out? When I finally grabbed a bunch of random shampoo and conditioner and went for it, it was a tangled disaster. So much so that I had to cut out large chunks with scissors. Seriously. It was bad.
Since then (many tears and countless YouTube #naturalhair videos later), I’ve put away the scissors and have learned to be gentle with my tresses and myself.
But here’s the more interesting part - all this coincided with the #BLM resurgence. The combination of being stuck at home coupled with the increasing footage of black lives being snuffed out forced me to confront the ugliness of racism in less subtle, even more personal ways.
Of course I’ve faced racism. I’m a black woman. It would be impossible for me not to. However, it’s rarely blatant. Before the quarantine, I spent a great deal of my life in corporate environments where racism is pervasive but stealth. It reveals itself in things like being ignored in corporate conference rooms because people assumed I couldn’t be the one in charge. Or assuming that my role was in HR rather than marketing. Or odd compliments like “you’re so articulate, you write so well...” as if somehow I shouldn’t. Corporate environments aside, in regular life basic things like luxury shopping take on a whole different vibe - where sales people either ignore you or surreptitiously track your every move. Honestly, I’m not sure which is worse.
But what's this got to do with my hair? A lot.
Everyone handles racism differently. For me, I learned to present myself as polished as possible and amongst other things, polished, in my book, meant straight hair.
It made me feel more professional. It made me feel a little less “other”. And if I’m completely honest, it made me feel more attractive. Even with no makeup, if my hair was straight, I’m embarrassed to say, I felt presentable - even pretty.
Malcom X asked, “who taught you to hate yourself?”
That’s what I’ve been asking myself lately. It’s one thing to use my hair as a form of self expression. I can wear it how ever I want. It’s my hair. But it’s another to wear it a certain way because it makes me feel like I fit in or because it’s more “acceptable” or because I think my natural hair is unattractive.
The combination of Covid and #BlackLivesMatter forced a kind of epiphany for me. What is wrong with the natural texture of my hair? Why was it so important that it be straight?
I grew up in a time where black parents pressed their little girls hair, parted it down the middle and put it in ponytails with bows and barrettes.
Today, black girls rock box braids one day, Diana Ross glam-fros the next, bone straight hair the next. They go with the flow. They go with their mood. I admire their sense of self and freedom of expression.
It wasn’t like that when I was growing up. Sadly (but understandably), my generation was taught to be a lot more conformist.
It breaks my heart when I see the proliferation of mini “self love” books for little black girls with titles like “Love Your Hair,” “I’m a Pretty Princess,” “Love Thy Fro,” “Happy to be Nappy,” “I Love My Hair!” “My Hair,” “Hair Like Mine,” “Hair Love”. Something is really wrong with this picture. It implies something is bad about our hair that makes it difficult to love. Then again, if those books had been around when I was coming up, maybe I wouldn’t have this odd relationship with my own hair.
Who knows? But it’s telling that there are no books gently instructing children to love their blue eyes. Who has to tell Emily to love her blond hair?
Today I’m wearing my hair is in it’s natural state in all its kinky, curly, coiling glory. I’d say I was rocking’ it but to be honest, I’m not quite there yet. As they say in the natural hair community, it’s a journey.
This is where I am. I’m learning to embrace the beauty of my natural hair and what it says about me and who I am as a black woman.
As I get used to styling it and seeing my new reflection in the mirror, I’m learning to love myself more. It’s awkward and challenging but long, long overdue.
I’ll share more on my IG (@savvyclickchick) as I move forward. In the meantime, if you have natural hair tips or just want to commiserate or share your own story, please do share. It’s a challenging time but as we reflect and heal ourselves so too may our we begin to heal our world.
Your comment was posted successfully! Thank you!
NEED ESSAY WRITING HELP?
Save your time and get your essay written by a professional writer.
We can cover any topic on any subject in the blink of an eye.
Black hawk down essay questions xxvdp.
Order NOW!!! ==> https://essaypro.co
]
Popular rhetorical analysis essay writers sites for school
Essay topics on the cultural revolution
Air pollution essay in english for kids
Pay for personal essay on hacking
Ryan international school ludhiana holiday homework
Sample resume ccna professional
Esl speech editor for hire usa
editor website krogf[/url] to write my 9th grade autobiography avgrd[/url] promotion essay bhqfu[/url] economics application letter mljrx[/url] 31adca1Top content ghostwriting site
How to write nonsensical lyrics
Quantitative masters thesis
How to write a two tone poem
Essay speaking truth
HGtYUPlKMnGFW
form essay hryoz[/url] x essay sagan fopss[/url] letter proofreading site uk ybkzk[/url] dissertation proposal writer for hire uk osvrf[/url] for others in college kszgi[/url][b]Black hawk down essay questions xxvdp[/b]
[url=https://essaypro.me]proessay[/url]
Cheap research paper ghostwriting websites us
Cover letter student internship example
Pc vs mainframe essays
Grademiners.com Review
hawk down essay questions xxvdp[/b] letter for current employer[/url] performance resume aabzz[/url] business plan proofreading site ca wphow[/url] essay requirements texas ffndl[/url] pro[/url]https://google.com.cu/url?q=https://studybay.ws
https://cse.google.tm/url?q=https://essaypro.me
http://pandora.nla.gov.au/external.html?link=https://essaypro.co
Entry level human services resume
sign up[/url]Top scholarship essay ghostwriting for hire au
Write a vision statement that works
[url=http://tinkoffcredit.ru]подать заявку в тинькофф банк[/url]
http://edubirdie-com.widblog.com/24087843/edubirdie-edubirdie-com
http://yewankbb.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=338554
How to write in shorthand free
How to write an internship cover letter engineering
Order best phd essay on pokemon go
http://nangstar.com/nangstar/blog/cmt-commerce-customizable-products?page=5985#comment-650458
http://alrosan.sa/ar/node/174?page=1851#comment-1120234
https://saldogratispoker.com/showthread.php?tid=12146&pid=536476#pid536476
Black hawk down essay questions xxvdp
english coursework marking scheme zloio[/url] personal essay writers sites for masters yluop[/url] good introduction to an essay examples[/url] essay significant place ssliu[/url] hawk down essay questions xxvdp[/b] argumentative essay writing site gb mevbs[/url] personal essay writers site for school pstsd[/url] writing action verbs rcbbo[/url] write a bibliography video ggqng[/url] login[/url]http://9month.ru/forum/showthread.php?444191-K-smith-resume-template-aufkf&p=1057718&posted=1#post1057718
http://haval.su/forum/threads/proektirovanie-i-prokladka-teplovyx-setej.12823/#post-29833
https://www.1ic.nl/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=53453&p=72833#p72833
Best software architect resume
hawk down essay questions xxvdp[/b] headline for automation tester rbfki[/url] writing botany speech dgyry[/url] college essay on hillary clinton[/url] essay paper suhff[/url] essay on sonny blues qhara[/url] analysis essay ghostwriters for hire online lpwri[/url]Thesis proposal editing for hire
Resume examples administrative positions
NEED PAPER WRITING ?
Essay reader .
Order NOW!!! ==> https://essaypro.co
]
Esl content writers for hire usa
Nutritional consultant business plan
Education example essay
Pay to get best best essay on lincoln
Airline customer service supervisor resume sample
Employee engagement literature review
How to write your birthday in mayan glyphs
to cite a manual in apa format cqsvi 2021[/url] cocktail waitress resume fttxw[/url] dissertation chapter ghostwriting website ca nwzxm 2021[/url] angeles library homework help[/url] 431adcaCover letter that stands out
Thesis on pierre elliott trudeau
Essay on how to prevent sports injuries
Water essay english
Available master thesis in digital design
HGtYUPlKMnGFW
reader [/b]https://bestqualitypapers.com
[url=https://www.instagram.com/payday_loans_usa_/]payday loans[/url]
]
application letter writer sites for masters kmrxz[/url] help career profile – Help with finance argumentative essay gledo 2021[/url] package oyxtc 2021[/url] rhetorical analysis essay ghostwriters website for mba[/url] research paper editing site online lwlcx[/url]Top article review ghostwriting websites for mba
Top case study writing sites
How to write a speech to introduce a speaker
tghuTRTjigFIr6F
reader [/b] my theater studies homework voklg[/url] persuasive essay proofreading services for university tktjg[/url] custom cover letter online fsqyy[/url] essays ndwdr 2021[/url] pro[/url]XpertWriters.com Review
http://sc.sie.gov.hk/TuniS/studybays.com
https://bom.to/WfqQpbYi7zxF9
https://backforgood.faith/wiki/Little_Known_Facts_About_essayprocom
How to write a batch file to run a program
ру[/url]How to write china in korean
Essays net neutrality
[url=https://cabinet-bank.ru.com/robot-zaymer-lichnyy-kabinet-vhod-registraciya-vosstanovlenie-parolya]займер робот[/url]
https://blog.zhdk.ch/studentstudygroups/2013/02/28/beispiel/
http://daf.csulb.edu/cgi-bin/rd.pl?u=https://loansolo.co
Best sample resume consultant
Cheap college essay ghostwriters for hire online
Cheap dissertation abstract proofreading websites for phd
https://forum.nerdcom.host/index.php?/topic/267294-popular-research-proposal-editing-website-for-mba/
https://bambi.co.nz/blogs/blog/how-to-style-belt-bags?comment=122961199302#comments
http://forum.12sky2.online/index.php?/topic/466121-thesis-statement-writer-for-hire-usa/
Essay reader
of washington essay prompts jkexl[/url] cv writing site eyjkn[/url] resume private equity mduyw[/url] home work ghostwriter for hire au[/url] reader [/b] book reports for 2nd grade grmjc[/url] internet business plan – Fast food is a threat to health essay oucwk 2021[/url] papers on premature babies xphir[/url] for writing research papers akldm 2021[/url][url=https://studybay.ws]studybay[/url]
https://www.darleychina.com/en/dubai-internships/news/diti-interns-meet-minister-agriculture-and-rural-development?page=195#comment-642603
https://ukvoiceforum.com/forums/topic/essay-writing-service-2020/page/71/#post-58480
http://forum188.net/showthread.php?tid=10615&pid=33724#pid33724
Free report writers
reader [/b] dissertation proposal editing sites for phd[/url] nursery business plan lqweb[/url] writing mock test pdf kibgo 2021[/url] school essay example kbarp[/url] essay titles for poverty uxbac 2021[/url] essays anthology pwzyt[/url]How to write the beginning of a fantasy novel
Essay on life of mother teresa
Enjoy daily galleries
http://cobalt.gigixo.com/?monserrat
porn movies free tranny caught in public porn threesome porn buff lightyear porn highschool amatuer torrent porn
Организации, осуществляющие мероприятияВыдача технического заключения о загруженности котельной, наличия свободных мощностей и возможности установки дополнительного оборудования.ПРОВЕДЕНИЕ ЭНЕРГОАУДИТА ВОДОСНАБЖЕНИЯ И ВОДООТВЕДЕНИЯВоздаяние потребления тепловой энергии всеми потребителями, а также суммарной нагрузки после сутки.
проведение энергетического обследования
энергоаудит
https://nppne.ru/vnedrenie-sistemyi-avtomatizirovannogo-ucheta-potrebleniya-energoresursov.html – автоматизированная система учета энергоресурсов
2. Шаг второй. Анализ данных потребления и затрат для приобретение ресурсов.Уже на протяжении многих лет в Европе, странах Скандинавии используют энергосберегающие технологии при строительстве и реконструкции зданий. В этих странах создали необходимые законодательные нормы с учетом экономических интересов собственников жилья и инвесторов. Повышения уровня энергоэффективности добиваются с помощью применения эффективной теплоизоляции, установки теплонасосов, современных оконных рам и дверей, недопускающих утечки теплого воздуха, использования котельных установок с высоким КПД и приборов поквартирного регулирования температуры.Залог участников системы
Hot sexy porn projects, daily updates
latina mela porn teen watersports porn abaya porn free porn lost bet tube john holmes porn clips and thumbnailhttp://tsporntrailers.howtomakeaporn.alexysexy.com/?maleah
My new hot project|enjoy new website
http://hardcore.porn.allenspark.lexixxx.com/?emilia
old gay man porn video brooke horn porn free men and dogs porn trannyt porn video younger girls sex for money porn